LAKEVILLE — Several elected officials discussed government transparency, economic policy and gun laws over lunch to an audience of Cranberry Country Chamber of Commerce members. 

The event was held at the LeBaron Hills Country Club in Lakeville on Sept. 12, and included state Auditor Diana DiZoglio as guest speaker and state Rep. Norman Orrall and state Sen. Kelly Dooner as panelists. 

DiZoglio spoke about her fight to audit the state’s legislation and its refusal to allow her to do so. Despite a majority of voters approving a ballot measure authorizing this audit, she said the legislature has still refused to comply and the state’s attorney general will not enforce the law. 

“When 72% of the population of the Commonwealth comes out and says that they’ve made their decision, that’s democracy at work,” DiZoglio said. “But what’s happening is a lot of our top officials right now are acting like the constitution and the laws are there to protect politicians.”

She told listeners this is a non-partisan issue, and said she has found support from both Democrats and Republicans. Orrall and Dooner, both Republicans, said they support the audit efforts of DiZoglio, a Democrat, despite their party differences and want to increase transparency in the state’s government. 

During the lunch, Orrall, who represents Berkley, East Taunton, Lakeville, and Middleboro, and Dooner, senator for the Third Bristol and Plymouth district, answered questions submitted by audience members. Several of the questions centered on new and proposed state-level economic policies. 

Rep. John Gaskey was slated to attend, but was absent without explanation. 

Both the representative and senator expressed their disagreement with the new auto-IRA mandate — a law passed for the 2026 fiscal year requiring small businesses to offer retirement plans to their employees. They said a distinction should be made between big-box retailers and small businesses, and that less financial contribution should be required from the latter. 

“I grew up in a small business family — there’s no need for the government to continue to be getting in on what your business does,” Orrall said. “I know retirement is difficult, when you’re young you don’t pay attention to it, but I’m of the mindset you reap what you sow.”

They also questioned the long-term vision of attempts to mandate electric vehicles in an attempt to curb carbon emissions. Both officials said there is neither the finances nor infrastructure to support these changes. 

In response to a question about Chapter 135 — a 2024 act modernizing firearm laws — Orrall and Dooner both said they oppose the act and hope to appeal it in the future. 

Dooner said she carries a gun nearly everywhere, as she feels an elevated sense of danger as a public figure. She also pointed to the recent homicide of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was gunned down at Utah Valley University, as a reason not to tighten gun laws. 

“I’ve always been fearful, I’m always looking around everywhere that I go,” she said, adding that she frequently receives threats. 

“Being able to carry gives me that security and that safety that I need when I’m out in public, when I need to protect myself. We have great law enforcement officers, but as we saw with what happened yesterday [the Wednesday shooting], you call them after the fact.”